IT’S TIME FOR A PERFECT DARK REBOOT

IT'S TIME FOR A PERFECT DARK REBOOT

     It’s been fifteen years since the last Perfect Dark game (Perfect Dark: Zero) was released (2005). The gaming industry has changed astronomically in those fifteen years. Where once it may have been difficult to imagine a fit for the IP in the gaming market, now it is the perfect time for it to return. Perfect Dark and its protagonist, the lethal spy, Joanna Dark, would be an excellent fit alongside other reimagined franchises. As a revered gaming icon and fierce heroine, Joanna Dark would absolutely benefit from the same “glow up” that Lara Croft received in the Tomb Raider Reboot Trilogy. That trilogy brought Lara into the twenty-first century culturally, reimagining her look, attitudes, sensibilities, and mannerisms, while also changing the genre type into something way bigger than the previous. Lara was reimagined as a brilliant archeologist turned hardened survivor, forged under fire. The Reboot Trilogy also greatly enhanced the focus on narrative and characters, with a strong story and compelling characters. Perfect Dark could be made into something truly special, with this level of work and care.

     Speaking of Tomb Raider, guess who is the studio head of Xbox’s The Initiative studio; It’s Darrell Gallagher, a veteran on the team behind the Trilogy Reboot at Crystal Dynamics. If any man, and any team are particularly equipped to resurrect Perfect Dark for the modern era, then it’s Darrell and the Initiative. Back at E3 2018, Phil Spencer (Head of Xbox) dropped a really interesting quote hinting that Gallagher might have interest in revisiting one of Xbox’s classic IP (Perfect Dark) due to his experience working on The Tomb Raider Reboot Trilogy. {Source, @Klobrille} 

     Fast forward to January 28, 2020, Phil Spencer once again dropped an eye-catching quote, this time on twitter. {Source, @XboxP3}

     While this can be interpreted in different ways, it surely does seem like a friendly hint at the reboot of a beloved and classic IP from Xbox’s past. Perfect Dark, redone with a much stronger focus on narrative, and changes to the combat style would be a mega hit in today’s gaming climate. Not all older IP’s deserve a second chance, but Perfect Dark is without a doubt, one that does. Besides Fable, Perfect Dark is probably the strongest IP that has been on ice for Xbox. Now is the perfect time to seize the moment, and bring Perfect Dark back. Joanna Dark patiently waits, as E3 is just a few months away.